Dear COLlive Community,
I thought it is time to bring you up to date with news about my friend, Channah Feiga Lefkowitz. You probably recall the Gofundme campaign recently set up to help Channah Feiga and her son pay rent and live while she can’t work due to her disability. Baruch Hashem, you have all been incredibly generous and I’m sure your kindness will be repaid over and over in blessings from Hashem.
Today, Channah Feiga received more bad news from her doctor. He was adamant that she does not do ANY work at all – she needs complete rest, meaning she can’t even cook or fold laundry or use the computer – anything that will further damage her one working arm. If that wasn’t bad enough, she has to have some lengthy tests and see another specialist, as something showed up in a recent test that has given cause for concern. So on Sunday, I am taking her to Ashdod for a major medical test that can take as long as 5 hours. I don’t know how she will be able to sit in the car for a further hour or more till we get back home, because her spine has been affected by her condition.
She is at the end of her rope. It was very hard to see her distress when she came out of the doctor’s office. She is in deep shock and very frightened. And then I drove her to Bituach Leumi for yet another meeting to try to get financial support and a home health aide.
This time, I also spoke to the BL representative, but that was after Channah Feiga told me she had been told to see a social worker – about getting a job! Clearly, this woman had not heard a word Channah Feiga had said, nor did she read the doctor’s letter. I pointed out that not only can’t she work, she needs help with her personal needs and household chores.
The representative admitted the home health aide is a priority, as is getting full benefits. But she also said she had no idea when (or if) anything would be approved; this is bureaucracy at its best in Israel and time is marching on.
When we are hale and hearty, preparing for Pesach is a tough job. Imagine how it must be if you don’t have use of your hands. That is Channah Feiga’s situation right now, and there isn’t anyone to help her.
Dear friends, you have really been generous. The campaign raised almost $18,000 in just days, but most of it has gone on rent and bills. She can’t wait for BL to kick in, she needs a home health aide now. I am pleading with you to help again so she can hire someone to come in every day and help her until BL is approved.
You already opened your hearts wide. And it is very hard for me to ask you to open your wallets a second time, but as her friend, I have to try everything I can to alleviate her suffering. A lady in the community is coordinating meals; I am hosting her and Yudi for Yom Tov; and after Pesach we will start the meal train again. But hiring a home health aide is very expensive and at the moment, Channah Feiga and her son need a roof over their heads, so whatever money came in had to be used for that.
I don’t know how much more she can take. As she said to me, she has always worked and taken care of her needs since she was a teenager; she never relied on anyone, not her family or welfare, for support. Now she is a disabled, destitute single mom of a teenage boy and is stuck in a physical and emotional nightmare. I couldn’t even answer her beyond repeating it will be good, it’s going to be good…. But quite honestly, I don’t know how that will be achieved without your help.
My late father had a number of favorite sayings: one was “if all it takes is money, it can be fixed.” With G-d’s help, the health issues will be resolved, but the financial issues are a different story. Her home-based needs CAN be fixed through money, but everything that has been raised has been used for back and future rent, and utilities. There is very little left to hire help or buy the things she needs.
Channah Feiga doesn’t sleep well at night – her bed doesn’t give her the support and position she needs so she is in constant pain. The pain starts when she gets in, as it is very difficult for her. I asked her about her recliner – like her couch, it’s broken, but there is no money to replace it. She really could use a hospital bed, and I hope to be able to get one from a local organization. Meanwhile, she catnaps day and night, which is all she can manage until the pain hits again.
It’s not easy to appeal to you again, especially at this time of the year. There are so many desperate people who are in similar situations and some may be in worse ones. However, I am committed to helping Channah Feiga get through these challenges in any way I can and so I have to go public. Please revisit the campaign at the link below, and ask your friends and family to follow your lead and support this woman who has never known a pain-free day. You will be blessed with good health, wealth and nachas from your children for your generosity.
Wishing you all a Kosher Freilichen Pesach, Chag Kosher V’sameach
Hindy Lewis
acupunture treatments for the pain to heal! and herbs
Is there a way to pay through PayPal?
The campaign shows goal was raised paid adjust this so new comers know to give